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FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski smiles and gives a thumbs-up during pre-game warmups.The New England Patriots hosted the Miami Dolphins in a regular season NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Sept. 30, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images Rob Gronkowski, the greatest tight end of his generation and arguably in the history of pro football, is the headline name among this year’s nominees for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. He will be competing against seven other players for the famous red jacket and the honor of receiving the franchise’s highest individual honor.
Alongside Gronkowski, this year’s nominees also include fullback Mosi Tatupu, wide receiver Wes Welker, guard Logan Mankins, defensive tackle Julius Adams, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Lawyer Milloy and kicker Adam Vinatieri. All of them meet the baseline requirement for nomination, being at least four years removed from retirement.
Even though all eight have had distinguished careers with the Patriots, Gronkowski is the clear favorite to eventually make it to the finalists round and emerge the overall winner of the contest.
A second-round draft pick in 2010, Gronkowski made an immediate impact on the team and by his second season was already in the conversation as the best tight end in the NFL. While he did battle injuries and initially declared his retirement after the 2018 season, he still left his mark on the team as both one of its most productive players year in and year out as well as a fan favorite.
Gronk was a larger-than-life figure and one of the faces of the franchise during his time in New England. He also was a true difference maker, who appeared in a combined 132 regular season and playoff games for the team and scored 92 total touchdowns.
A three-time Super Bowl winner as a Patriot as well as a four-time first-team All-Pro, he was voted to both the NFL’s and the Patriots’ Teams of the 2010s and the league’s 100th Anniversary Team. He has the credentials to become a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer — even though that Hall’s credibility took a massive hit earlier this year — and is likely to also secure induction into the Patriots Hall in his first year of eligibility.
The three finalists, which were voted on by a 23-member panel consisting of journalists and ex-Patriots Ernie Adams and Dante Scarnecchia, are expected to be announced next week. In a follow-up step, fans will get to vote for who should become the 36th inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
